After 10 years as PM, Manmohan Singh's legacy to go down like Narasimha Rao?

He probably has less than three months in his job, and he's all but forgotten, despite holding the job for 10 years, in the great cacophonous conversation that's Indian election. But this near-irrelevancy in current public discourse notwithstanding, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his PMO are busy—busy with government work and busy wondering whether post-PM days will herald events worse than unflattering assessments.

"Will his legacy go down as that of Narasimha Rao... will he be targeted by a new government in telecom and coal cases," a senior PMO official wondered, reflecting worries of his boss and his loyal core team.

ET spoke to senior officials at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), his close confidants and Congress politicians over the last few weeks to get a sense of Singh's plans, his final days in office, his fears and his best and worst moments. They all spoke on condition of anonymity and most of them defended Singh, who has been attacked for being indecisive and for meekly accepting humiliation that's been meted out to him by friend and foe alike.

So, how will the narrative on Singh's decade be shaped? His defenders say he's an honourable man who's been unfairly maligned.

Vendetta Politics

For Singh, one of the main concerns is whether a vengeful government could come after him over coal block or spectrum allocation. Preserving his scrupulously clean image is important to him. "I have done nothing wrong, I want to go as an honourable man," the PM is believed to have told one of his confidants at a meeting last month at which top officials, including principal secretary Pulok Chatterji, were present.

Elsewhere, he has said: "I have served the country with utmost dedication and integrity. I have never used my office to enrich my friends or relatives." The confidant cited above said: "The PM thinks he will be targeted if Narendra Modi becomes Prime Minister. He has asked his legal team to look at cases like 2G and the coal scam, where his name figured. He is worried, withdrawn and dejected. He is worried things might end up like what happened with Narasimha Rao," who also had to deal with the fallout of corruption scandals after his term ended.

Moves to prosecute Singh could put paid to any plans he may have of mentoring Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, teaching at Cambridge (from where he has a standing invitation) or quietly settling down at 3, Moti Lal Nehru Marg. Some in the PMO felt that the party had not adequately defended him, while another official said Singh won't try to dodge any bullets. "The PM is responsible for decisions taken during his tenure and will not shift blame," this person said. Singh has always maintained that, "I am not above the law of the land. If there is anything that the CBI, or for that matter, anybody wants to ask, I have nothing to hide."

Still, the 81-year-old prime minister hasn't allowed these worries to slow him down. On the contrary, he's been working harder than ever with just a few months to go. The number of his daily meetings doubled and he cleared 300 projects worth about Rs 6.6 lakh crore in a year just before the code of conduct came into effect.

A PMO official said Singh was always a hard worker, clearing more than 300 files every month. When Parliament was in session he would meet more than 10 MPs every day. With such a busy schedule, Singh had little time to call his own. As for writing his memoir, "I have not thought about it, I don't need any personal publicity," the PM is believed to have told one of his officials.

Among other things, the PMO pushed hard towards the end for the Rs 5,000-crore 'Har Haath Mein Phone' scheme to give mobile phones to families living below the poverty line but this was derailed by last-minute glitches. But Singh will continue to be occupied in the remaining days.

Before his term ends, he plans to spend a day on board the INS Vikramaditya, the Russian-built aircraft carrier that's just joined the fleet of the Indian Navy. He will also be campaigning "aggressively" in the run-up to the elections at the request of the party. He will address six-eight meetings and visit the Northeast, the south and Punjab, a PMO official said.

And, he's engaged with poll strategy as well. A PMO official has conveyed suggestions to Congress media managers about how to tackle Bharatiya Janata Party prime ministerial candidate Modi. "Take him on politically, the way (finance minister) P Chidambaram handles it. Counter him on facts and figures, otherwise it will prove to be counter-productive," a PMO official said, citing the advice that was given.

As for PM's key advisors, "none of them is interested in a post-retirement job or gubernatorial assignment," the person said.